Job 28:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Furthermore, he adds, It cannot be exchanged for gold, nor can it be weighed in silver. His answers seem to address the questions, but rather serve to highlight their inherent complexity without offering a definitive answer. When he asked about wisdom's location and offered responses from the depths and the sea, he did not reveal a place but instead merely indicated where wisdom certainly does not exist. Additionally, when he mentioned that "the price of wisdom is unknown to man," returning with the assertion that it cannot be traded for gold, he emphasized that no equivalent value can measure its worth. It is evident that this wisdom cannot be possessed by one's status, nor can it be secured through wealth. The devout individual, filled with profound understanding, points us to something beyond created wisdom, directing our pursuit not toward earthly wisdom but toward divine wisdom itself; although we may delve into these expressions seeking hidden meanings, they demand close consideration within the canvas of the historical narrative. Subsequently, he states, Gold and glass cannot compare to it, and while glass is worth far less than gold, one might wonder why he pairs glass with a precious metal if both fall short of wisdom's worth. The mere intricacies of his message compel us to embrace its deeper, mystical significance. This holy man reflects on what wisdom truly is, of which Paul speaks: Christ the Power of God and the Wisdom of God: 1 Cor. 1:24. Solomon articulates: Wisdom hath built herself a house: Proverbs 9:1, while the psalmist states: Thou hast wrought all things wisely: Psalm 103:24. This wisdom's price remains unknown to man, primarily because nothing of similar value exists for comparison. This underscores the sentiment that wisdom's value is unknown, rather like a person in distress who has no remedy, often admitting, 'I do not know what to do.' Thus, the inability to discern the value of this wisdom reflects a profound realization of the lack of worthy practices to obtain it. Typically, a price is set for something we wish to possess after making the requisite payment. But what can we offer that would be equitable in exchange for receiving this Wisdom, who is Christ? Therefore, it is by grace alone that we are redeemed. For our sinful actions merit punishment, but instead of receiving mere reparation, we have instead received the grace of redemption. Man was owed one outcome by justice, but received another through grace. Let Paul testify about the time before he understood this priceless truth, recalling the thorns of his prior errors. He who once was a blasphemer, a persecutor, an aggressor, says he receives forgiveness because he acted in ignorance and unbelief: 1 Tim. 1:13. Let him bear witness to those for whom Christ humbly died, saying that Christ died for the ungodly at the appointed time: Rom. 5:8. Thus now, we who have come to understand through the Wisdom that graced us, what comparable deeds could we offer in return for Him? Humanity cannot ascertain the worth of this Wisdom because, though set apart from the beasts by reason, one realizes they cannot uphold their own merits and sees that nothing good can be offered in exchange, which leads them to faith. He who understands the value of acquiring wisdom resonates with a sense of equal worth in seeking knowledge of God. He learned that this Wisdom bore no price, echoing the sentiment: Who has given to Him that He should be repaid? Rom. 11:35. Hence, it is also written: For by grace ye have been saved through faith, and this is not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: Eph. 2:8, which is to say not of works, lest any man should boast. Thus, he speaks of himself, declaring: By the grace of God, I am what I am: 1 Cor. 15:10, acknowledging this grace inspires every virtue born in his heart, guiding his actions toward eternal glory, affirming that his grace was not bestowed in vain. Yet, there are those who take pride in their own perceived strength and capability for redemption, whose reasoning ultimately collapses under scrutiny; for while they regard themselves as 'innocent' and 'worthy of salvation', the very term 'redemption' becomes unrecognizable to them. For all who are redeemed undeniably escape some form of bondage. Why then would an individual claim to be 'redeemed' if they are 'innocent' and free of sin? Such reasoning is fundamentally misguided. For divine grace does not await the appearance of a meritorious person, but rather, upon arrival, it transforms them. And when God approaches the unworthy, He elevates them and confers merit relative to the punishment that remains due for their misdeeds.

It is important to reflect on the narrative of the thief who ascended from the depths of despair to Paradise, crossing from death to life with the Lord at His side. Observe the transformation from the man bound by his sins to the one redeemed by grace. He approached the cross entangled in the blood of his brother, yet through divine grace, he was changed as he hung there, crying out, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom: Lk. 23:42. Though nails affixed him to the cross, he offered to God the unbound parts of his being, for it is written: with the heart one believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation: Rom. 10:10. The Apostle affirms the virtues dwelling within believers, stating: And now abideth faith, hope, love: 1 Corinthians 13:13; the robber was immediately filled with these graces at the cross. He had faith, believing in the Lord’s kingship even as he witnessed His suffering; he possessed hope, pleading for admission into the kingdom, and he exhibited love, elevating his fellow sufferer with the truth, stating, Do you not fear God since you are under the same condemnation? We indeed suffer justly, for we are receiving the due reward for our deeds, but He has done nothing wrong: Lk. 23:40-41. He approached the cross laden with sin but descended from it, enveloped in grace. He came to the Lord in human form beside him, at a time when His own disciples struggled to recognize His divine authority.

Those who believe in their own capacity for salvation are profoundly misguided, proclaiming their own efficacy. If this were true, the psalmist would not have said: To the glory of God belong the confession and His marvelous works: Psalms 111:3. Therefore, from Him, we attain knowledge of righteousness, enabling us to accomplish great works. Recognizing our own inability to earn this Wisdom, it is justifiable to assert that man does not know its true value. Only he who observes himself through this lens of wisdom gains a deeper insight, realizing he has acquired it through unworthiness, receiving it freely to become worthy. It is aptly stated: they are not found in the land of those who live carelessly.

What does the term 'land' represent in this context if not the salvation of the soul? As the psalmist expresses, My soul longs for You, as a barren land thirsts for rain: Psalms 142:6. Wisdom evades those who dwell in carelessness because a person consumed by the pleasures of this world remains detached from Eternal Wisdom. For if one were genuinely wise, transient delights would pale in comparison, and they would mourn their separation from the light of wisdom. Solomon advises that increasing knowledge brings sorrow: Eccl. 1:18. The more one comprehends the depth of loss, the greater their grief over one's fallen state. They realize from the bliss of Eden they have descended to the sufferings of mortal existence, transitioning from the angels' embrace to dire want, acknowledging the multitude of trials that now plague them, those who previously neglected to seek refuge in safety. They lament their exile, recognizing the divine glory they might have experienced had they not dabbled in sin. The psalmist articulates this sense of being forsaken: I said in my haste, I am cut off from before Your eyes: Psalms 30:23. Upon reflecting on the joy of divine communion, one can measure their experience compared to the darkness of their current state, which becomes increasingly unbearable when contrasted with the internal light felt before. Similarly, he confesses his soul finds no solace in the fleeting pleasures of life: I have denied my soul comfort: Psalms 76:3. Often, the wealthy, facing inner turmoil, grasp at superficial joys to mask their sorrow; yet although they may distract themselves momentarily with wealth or property, such distractions fall flat when deep sorrows return. Hence, the Truth warns them in the Gospel: Woe to you that are rich, for you have received your consolation: Lk. 6:24. The devout individual who mourns the loss of eternal joy cannot find comfort in earthly pleasures, proclaiming: I have denied my soul comfort. In essence, he indicates that he does not mourn for temporal losses, nor could he be consoled by abundance. When questioned about what he seeks in refusing solace from the earthly, he replies: I remembered God and found delight: Psalms 76:4. Thus, to one whom earthly riches cannot appease, only the recollection of divine contemplation brings joy.

This is akin to a bitterness, where one hopelessly ascends toward divine heights, resisting the urge toward worldly distractions. As it is recorded: The heart of the wise is in mourning, while the heart of fools is in merriment: Eccl. 7:4. Hence James reminds: Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep; let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness: James 4:9. Likewise, Christ professes: Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted: Matthew 5:4. Therefore, wisdom cannot be located in the realm of those living carelessly, for they are ever more foolish as they delight in lesser things while losing sight of the greater. Peter admonishes the folly of the wicked, asserting: they shall receive the wages of corruption and wickedness: 2 Pet. 2:13. Likewise, Solomon recognizes laughter as folly, remarking: Why do you labor in vain at joy? Eccl. 2:2. Thus, let a holy individual speak concerning wisdom and her absence in the realm of the careless. In stating that those who dwell sweetly and carelessly are so desensitized, they possess no awareness of how far they have fallen. Hence, it follows:

Nothing elevates a person's virtues or aligns him with his intended purpose quite like a life devoted to godliness. Conversely, when an individual succumbs to evil and indulges his base desires, he becomes like a senseless beast, losing both understanding and will.